"No survey without service." Applied Mental Health Research (AMHR) Group is comprised of faculty members at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health from the Center for Refugee and Disaster Response and the Departments of International Health and Mental Health. AMHR focuses on technical assistance to nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and other implementers of mental health interventions for populations in low- and middle-income countries. In providing technical assistance, AMHR attempts to build NGO and local country staff interest and capacity in the conduct of science-based mental health needs assessments, program Design, Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation (collectively referred to as DIME). Capacity building is done through collaboration and direct training on activities that constitute the DIME process, including using qualitative and quantitative methods to evaluate a target population's needs (e.g., identifying and measuring salient mental health and psychosocial problems), developing screening tools for recruitment into interventions, and conducting impact assessments.
AMHR's research is closely associated with the technical assistance described above and includes qualitative studies of needs and resources, quantitative studies and randomized controlled trials of interventions. The research approach is embedded within the technical service provision and carried out in collaboration with implementing partners.
Much of AMHR's research agenda arises from the fact that, unlike many other fields of international health, most mental health and psychosocial interventions have little or no data supporting their use in non-Western contexts. Local data on the impact of interventions is particularly lacking for most of the populations with whom we work. This is a critical issue since most interventions come from Western and developed countries and their feasibility and effectiveness in low-resource countries (the prime focus of the AMHR group's work) is unknown. When working with implementing partners, the AMHR group is constantly refining methods for conducting impact assessments that are scientifically rigorous and valid, and as being feasible for program-based use. In recent years, AMHR members have strived to develop and implement methods for conducting accurate assessments and controlled studies across cultures that are within the capabilities and resources of local service providers.
Additionally, the faculty in the AMHR group are involved with several epidemiologic investigations of topics relevant to low resource countries, including HIV adherence, child sexual abuse and postpartum depression.
Mental Health Interventions for Torture Survivors in Southern Iraq JHU is working with the Ministry of Health of Iraq (MOH) and Heartland Alliance (HA) to identify effective interventions for survivors of torture and their families in Southern Iraq. The MOH, since 2005, has staffed government primary health care centers with a cadre of health workers called, Community Mental Health Worker (CMHW). Since 2005, HA has been supporting this cadre through training and supervision for non-specific mental health interventions. Starting in 2010, JHU has worked with the MOH and HA to carry out a randomized control trial of two counseling therapies for persons exposed to torture and systematic violence and experience symptoms of mental illness. One of the therapies is called Components-Based Intervention (CBI)-a series of modules or components made up of evidence-based mental health treatments that are tailored to the presenting symptoms of clients. The other therapy is called Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)-a cognitive therapy that has shown promising results in a randomized trial among torture survivors in Northern Iraq. In this study, CMHWs provide either one or the other therapy with specific training and supervision supported by the study through a partnership between JHU, HA and the MOH. Clients who are eligible for the study and agree to participate in the study, after informed consent, are randomly assigned to receive the therapy immediately (intervention group) or after a period of several months (wait list control). The study will be completed by the end of 2012. Victims of Torture Databases The Applied Mental Health Research Group (AMRHG) maintains two databases of information about victims of torture. One database maintains information about organizations that provide services for victims of torture and their families. This database includes the following information about these services: organization, location, eligible beneficiaries, mental health interventions offered, other supportive services offered. Another database maintains information about research that has been carried out to improve the lives of torture survivors. Most of the research is on mental health interventions. This database includes the following information about the research: location, research participants, symptoms or problems targeted with the research, findings of the research, and level of rigor or evidence provided by the research. This information is used to compare services/interventions being provided and the evidence base for interventions for torture survivors. Balanced Scorecard for UNHCR-supported Health Facilities In 2011 and 2012, JHU is working the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to develop a balanced scorecard (BSC) for assessing quality of services at health facilities supported by UNHCR funding. In countries where UNHCR works, UNHCR contracts with governmental and/or non-governmental organizations to provide health services for refugees and for populations hosting refugees. The BSC is being developed for use by UNHCR country level staff members who routinely visit the health facilities they are supporting. During visits to health facilities, UNHCR staff members will use the BSC to access the quality of health services and then work with health facility staff to solve any problems identified. Faculty Research Projects Funding and Support Publications by AMHR Faculty Courses | 
